Memorial planned for cremated remains in Geneva

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 6:07 p.m. CST

By The Associated Press

GENEVA – Cremated remains of seven people have been turned over to next-of-kin three months after they were found along with 40 others in an office storage unit, Kane County Coroner Rob Russell said Wednesday.

Russell announced in March that the 47 cremated remains were found in an effort to reunite them with next-of-kin. People from around the world came forward after the ensuing media attention, Russell said, inquiring about the cremated remains. Russell's office knew the names of the deceased.

As a result, a father was reunited with the cremated remains of his 2-month-old child more than 25 years after the child's death. Another set of cremated remains was shipped to next-of-kin in Australia.

Russell said he was hoping for a 5 percent success rate in reuniting the remains because many dated back decades, including one from 1952. He said he is happy with the 15 percent success rate.

"That's better than I could have imagined," he said.

A non-denominational service and internment is planned Thursday at a St. Charles cemetery for the remaining 40 unclaimed cremated remains.

"We were able to find a solution to this problem because so many people cared," Russell said. "And now our long lost deceased residents have a respectable resting place. They have not been forgotten."